Both Fyne and Mrs.Fyne spoke of the rude health of their children as if it were a result of moral excellence; in a peculiar tone which seemed to imply some contempt for people whose children were liable to be unwell at times.

One almost felt inclined to apologize for the inquiry.

And this annoyed me; unreasonably, I admit, because the assumption of superior merit is not a very exceptional weakness.

Anxious to make myself disagreeable by way of retaliation I observed in accents of interested civility that the dear girls must have been wondering at the sudden disappearance of their mother's young friend.

Had they been putting any awkward questions about Miss Smith.